Second pole for Simoncelli

Marco Simoncelli will start on pole position for the Dutch TT after beating Ben Spies and Casey Stoner to the front of the grid.

Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini Team) displayed his determination for his first premier class win by sealing his second pole position of the 2011 MotoGP season. The Italian’s hot lap of 1’34.718 left him just 0.009s clear at the top of the timesheet, ahead of Yamaha Factory Racing’s Ben Spies. Spies stepped up his pace for the weekend, topping the timings at the halfway point of the hour long session and was the first to break into the 1’34s. Stoner clocked a time of 1’35.008 on his Repsol Honda to join the front row for the Iveco TT Assen race.

Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory Racing) again set the fourth fastest time of the day, with a 1’35.143, followed by Andrea Dovizioso who was 0.101s behind the Spaniard. Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider Cal Crutchlow, still injured after breaking his collarbone at Silverstone two weeks ago, bravely rode to sixth on the grid, 0.085s behind the Repsol Honda of Dovizioso.

Karel Abraham (Cardion AB Motoracing) had a strong qualifying run, placing as high as third in the timings fairly late in the session to finally place his Ducati in seventh with a time of 1’35.742. Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team) followed the Czech by a margin of 0.076s with Nicky Hayden (Ducati Team) and Randy de Puniet (Pramac Racing) completing the ten fastest times.

Valentino Rossi made several visits to the garages, attempted to find a dry set up for the Ducati team GP11.1 though did not make great improvements and will be starting the race from 11th position. Standing in for Dani Pedrosa on the Repsol Honda team, Hiroshi Aoyama will start from 12th position.

A disappointing finish was had by both Loris Capirossi (Pramac Racing) and Toni Elias (LCR Honda) who both crashed out of the qualifying session.